Barkdoll: Phoenix Racing not done yet

Published: Sunday, May 26, 2013 at 8:49 p.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, May 26, 2013 at 8:49 p.m.

CONCORD — Just weeks after Phoenix Racing owner James Finch said he was about to close up his shop in Spartanburg, S.C., Hendersonville's Steve Barkdoll was all smiles Sunday prior to the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

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Earlier this month, Finch said he planned to not enter any other Sprint Cup races following the Brickyard 400 on July 28 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but Barkdoll said Sunday those plans had changed.

"Yes... we will be entering more races after Indy," Barkdoll, who serves as the team's spotter on race day, said confidently. "Things are going pretty good right now. When James made that announcement and the story came out and got published by a lot of papers, it got a lot of people talking. It also got a lot of people contacting us and lining things up for future races.

"We are fighting to keep (the team) going."

Finch has entered all 12 Sprint Cup races so far this year, and prior to Sunday's race, he was 16th in owner points, thanks to two top-10 finishes by Regan Smith, who has drove for Finch in six races this year. Phoenix Racing also entered one Nationwide Series race this year on May 4 at Talladega and had another strong showing with its full-time Cup driver last year, Kurt Busch, who finished fourth.

One of his other drivers this season had another ride on Sunday — A.J. Allmendinger, who was driving for Roger Penske in the Indiapolis 500. On Sunday in the garage area, Barkdoll had his eyes peeled on the big-screen TV on the backstretch wall at CMS, watching his former driver.

"Check it out... our boy Allmendinger is in the lead," he said. "He hasn't been up front all day, but at least he was in the lead at the Indy 500."

Allmendinger ended up in seventh place.

Up next for the Phoenix Racing crew will be a trip to Dover International Speedway on June 2.

<p>CONCORD — Just weeks after Phoenix Racing owner James Finch said he was about to close up his shop in Spartanburg, S.C., Hendersonville's Steve Barkdoll was all smiles Sunday prior to the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.</p><p>"We're not done yet," Barkdoll, general manager of Phoenix Racing, said.</p><p>Earlier this month, Finch said he planned to not enter any other Sprint Cup races following the Brickyard 400 on July 28 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but Barkdoll said Sunday those plans had changed.</p><p>"Yes... we will be entering more races after Indy," Barkdoll, who serves as the team's spotter on race day, said confidently. "Things are going pretty good right now. When James made that announcement and the story came out and got published by a lot of papers, it got a lot of people talking. It also got a lot of people contacting us and lining things up for future races.</p><p>"We are fighting to keep (the team) going."</p><p>Finch has entered all 12 Sprint Cup races so far this year, and prior to Sunday's race, he was 16th in owner points, thanks to two top-10 finishes by Regan Smith, who has drove for Finch in six races this year. Phoenix Racing also entered one Nationwide Series race this year on May 4 at Talladega and had another strong showing with its full-time Cup driver last year, Kurt Busch, who finished fourth.</p><p>One of his other drivers this season had another ride on Sunday — A.J. Allmendinger, who was driving for Roger Penske in the Indiapolis 500. On Sunday in the garage area, Barkdoll had his eyes peeled on the big-screen TV on the backstretch wall at CMS, watching his former driver.</p><p>"Check it out... our boy Allmendinger is in the lead," he said. "He hasn't been up front all day, but at least he was in the lead at the Indy 500."</p><p>Allmendinger ended up in seventh place.</p><p>Up next for the Phoenix Racing crew will be a trip to Dover International Speedway on June 2.</p>